Puer tea is a post-Fermented tea, which leads to its characteristic of becoming more fragrant over time. This means that the longer Puer tea is stored, the richer its aroma and the better its quality. But is this always true?
Among teas, Puer stands out as unique because it improves with age. Unlike most other teas, the longer Puer is stored, the better it becomes due to Fermentation. This process generates many beneficial compounds for human health, making aged Puer desirable. The distinctive quality and aged fragrance of Puer are formed through post-fermentation during storage. Over time, the main chemical components of raw Puer—such as polyphenols, amino acids, and sugars—undergo changes that idealize the tea's color and aroma. However, improper storage or indefinite aging without scientific consideration can degrade its quality.
Conditions for Aged Puer Tea to Improve Over Time
1: Basic Conditions
The saying that Puer tea improves with age is indeed accurate, but only if certain basic conditions are met. Poor-quality Puer or improperly stored Puer will not achieve the desired effect of improving over time.
2: Storage Duration
The duration of storage does not necessarily correlate with the quality of Puer tea. There is an optimal period when the tea reaches its peak flavor. Pursuing indefinite storage can lead to the oxidation and degradation of beneficial compounds in Puer, diminishing its original character.
3: Market Environment
In today's Puer market, some vendors engage in fraudulent practices by using damp storage to accelerate the aging process of raw tea, creating so-called “aged teas.” Others may alter Packaging to give the impression of age. These activities have led consumers to question the authenticity of the claim that Puer tea improves over time.
The lifespan of aged Puer is uncertain, with no definitive data on whether it lasts 60 or 100 years. However, a golden melon tribute tea from the Forbidden City, aged for one or two centuries, now yields a Brew that is “colored but with a faded, aged taste.” This suggests that even Puer tea has limits to its improvement over time and is not indefinitely “better with age.”